An happy 75 owner's blog

[Dorchester2]

Another plague...

At the moment still remains one concern in my car: the back rear seat.

The last time I reclined it, when I wanted to put it back, I did it but both large push buttons on each side refused to go back in place remaining popped up, hence the back seat couldn't be locked.

I had then a close look, and back seat being vertical I pushed them (actually one of them, they are linked) down, but now they are refusing to go up in their right place.
They look rather stuck even I can do a slight move but cannot get them up.
Hence the back seat is still unlocked.

I was wondering whether helping the mechanism - obviously it's not at all blocked, just rather lightly seized up - with my magic WD40 would be a good or a silly idea.

What do you reckon of that?
Good move or better to do otherwise and how then?

If the back seat cannot be fixed, I guess the MOT may

Thanks a lot for your suggestions.

[Dorchester2]

Both my buttons being down sunk in the back seat and the back seat itself moving freely, I think a good option will be to go to the second part of the how to (https://forums.mg-rover.org/mg-zt-rov...d-down-294771/) and try from the back gap to catch the bar that could release the button while attaching a bootlace to help me the next time if I can succeed.
But I'm dubious whether it may be a next time... Obviously the mechanism looks rather deficient.

[Dorchester2]

Today is shiny and a bit of TLC was done.

- First swapped rear brake disks & pads rather worn & rusty for new BREMBO ones. My precious mechanic did it.

- Second rear GOODYEAR tyres were put on the front and the very tired ones were swapped for new Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance built in Poland last February.
Just a slight difference : the used front ones (13th week of 2015) in rather good condition are 205 65 15 V 94, but the new rear ones are 195 65 15 V 91, both being fitted from the factory.
The former are worth 50% more than the latter!
Not a very big concern for my next MOT is only due on the 31st Aug 2019 (one every 2 years in France).
The front ones now should be changed before that, surely in the beginning of next year & I'll opt for the same 195 65 15 V 91.
I hope I will gain a few extra mpg with both 195 without loosing anything of the present road holding.

- I received today my magic bluetooth / fm stuff

It's fab!
That bluetooth 4.1 compliant device is wonderful and gives to my phone playlist the same quality as my 6CDs changer. Moreover icing on the cake I can record another playlist in a USB stick and insert it in the device... Nice!

Here is now my console: you can't honestly see any wire but the only one going up to the TomTom. The black wires are not very disturbing and gathered in the trinket bowl.

For the faint-hearted I might just imagine a little black panel to hide those tiny spaghettis!

- Regarding the back seat, it will be done later in my spare time: I'm not obsessed with that little problem.

[Dorchester2]

For a few quids I've got now the exact equivalent as the Pioneer Bluetooth I put in my 25 three years ago for... around £80!
Amazing!

Regarding the bunch of spaghettis, I think I've in store what I need and very soon nearly all will be nicely hidden...

[Dorchester2]

Just a quick update.

- The 'bunch of spaghettis' is now sorted: entirely hidden behind a moisture eater black cushion I am sometimes using when the weather is wet and the car inside looks a bit damp with mist on the outside. Useful.

- My mechanic (in fact his colleague who is the boss) had a look on my bonnet left catch problem and solved the problem for free while the former was doing rear brakes & tyres (very nice & very skilful chaps! I'm very lucky). I guess he has adjusted the cable travel near the inside latch (I stupidly forgot to ask how he did the trick), because I hardly see now the half-moons in the holes. Only downside the first time I pulled the latch: the latch looks a bit loose when you pull it out and I had to pull up to the end to open the bonnet, but both studs open now frankly & simultaneously. I don't conceal I was in a cold sweat the first time I thought the trick had failed and I was sent back to the square one!

- Regarding my mesh grille, I saw that my previous glue wasn't perfect on one side so to avoid any future problem I decided to go for the recommended silicone one I'd bought just in case and it works very well. Better & safer in that case than the cyanocrylate Loctite super glue I'd used in the first place and that works very well in many other occasions.

I talked with my mechanic I had changed the mesh grille & above all I had to dismantle all the front parts of the car to have access in the end to the security bonnet catch & swap it: 'Then you realize better now what I had to do to swap your radiator last time!' he said with a kind & puckish smile... Good man!

[Dorchester2]

Definitely very happy & satisfied with my new Bluetooth / hands free device.

I've got yesterday my first phone call within the car: fantastic, just pushed on a button and at once I was able to chat without loosing anything on the road in front of me.

Today I've inserted my new 16Gb TF card with hundreds of musics hence now I'm lost for choice with my Symphony system:
- playlist #1 in the phone
- playlist #2 in the card (easy swapping thanks to a multi-function button)
- 6 CD changer

Don't say anything about my musics but that they are far older than the car!

I'm nearly in a concert hall! Shame I couldn't shut the eyes while driving!

And all that in a fine & comfy 75 built in 1999! Heaven!

[Dorchester2]

"Something is rotten in the state of"... back seat!
So I had a go this afternoon with my unpredictable (or rather too predictable?) back seat.

First of all: back seat leant forward, I can push upon the big red buttons and I see the horizontal bar inside going up & down nearly freely & without any impediment.

But when I push the back seat backward I've the choice:
either I let the buttons up and they cannot be pushed down when the back seat is in place,
or I push the buttons down but they refuse to go up when the back seat is in place.

Obviously the subtle final position isn't what it should be and the bar cannot take its right place inside both hooks (the bar would have to go up in the hooks to block the back seat).
But I can't be at the same time in front of the back seat, inside (might be tricky that one ) and behind in the boot!

I fear I'll have to bother my better half with that weird & ludicrous puzzling question ... and maybe I'll be given a non apologetic remark such as 'oh! you and your cars!'

So for the moment better to wait a good opportunity, arguing that could be problematic when I've to pass the MOT (in fact I don't know whether it's compulsory - and verified - in France), but no hurry, that will only happen in August 2019!

[Dorchester2]

Just two little add-on to give more confort to driver & passengers:

- Car Auto Soft Memory Cotton Leather Headrest Neck Rest Pillow Cushion Adjustable (I suffer from neck osteoarthritis & hence terrible headaches) (colour very close to my sandstone beige leather)

- 4 wind(ows) deflectors

Not compulsory but I hope they will be useful.
Very clean & quality items so far.

[Dorchester2]

Short photo session
At last the grounds are drying and the sun's shining.
Friends' gardens & hacienda gave me the opportunity of a little snapshot...
You may see my new wind / rain deflectors.
That's also another way of celebrating - unfortunately apart & out of the mainland - the 13th POL...

[Dorchester2]

I must say the wind deflectors were actually done on purpose and fit brilliantly on a 75 or ZT. Just compulsory to bend the rear extremity on the front ones to put them in place, but the explication was done in the online notice. Sorry it's written in French but the pics are suggestive enough. The stuff itself is made in Poland.

https://www.twinsonline.eu/ebay/car/...ructionsfr.htm

So no surprise.
Very good quality item so far. Slightly smoke tinted.